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Volga

Population: 16,905,000. Biggest city: Samara (1,255,000)
Flying time from Moscow to Samara: 1 hour.
Time difference from Moscow: +1 hour.
Urban population: 73%. Rural population: 27%.
Area: 536,400 square km (same as France). Density: 31 persons / sq. km.
Climate zones: Ranging from dry steppes and semi-deserts in the south to mixed and coniferous forests in the north.

Socio-economic indicators (1999 Duma Vote)

Popular approval of economic change is well above average in this region, both in terms of the rating of the national economy and the expectation of improvements in their own lives and in the household economy. People are also more likely than the average to have consumer goods. Life expectancy for men and women is also just above the national average.

However, reported GDP per capita is below the national average, and the regional wage levels are one-sixth below the national average. However, the likelihood of not being paid regularly is also below the national average. The discrepancies between these data and positive optimism of individuals can be influenced by the fact that in the Volga region those reporting having a second job are also above the national average.
 

Volga Regional value    Russian mean    % Russian mean 

ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
Current national economy not bad: % 33 19 174
GDP 1995 bln rbls 147,724 127,531 116
Consumer goods: % with VCR 39 34 115
Current household economy not bad: % 49 45 109
Wages paid in full in previous month, % 53 49 107
GDP/capita rbls, million 9 10 92
Industrial productivity mln rbls/employee 59 66 90
Wage levels 1000 rbls/month, 1995 390 472 83

LABOUR MARKET CHANGE
Have second job previous month: % 24 19 126
Employer: new private, % 28 23 122
Job is secure, % 52 50 104
Employed, % labour force
91
91
100
Employment sector: services, % 39 49 80
Prepared to move to find a job: % 10 17 59

SOCIAL COHESION AND STABILITY
Expect life to improve next year: % 29 21 138
Life is bearable, % 54 52 104
Life expectancy in years (male) 60 58 103
Life expectancy in years (female) 73 72 101
Hospital beds per 10,000 124 126 98
Students in higher education per 10,000    170 179 95
Population change, % -.5 -.6 --
Read newspapers regularly: % 58 67 87


Administrative divisions

Tatarstan Republic (Pop. 3,763,200)
Capital: Kazan (1,095,000)
Penza Oblast (Pop. 1,554,700)
Capital: Penza (552,000) 
Samara Oblast (Pop. 3,308,500)
Capital: Samara (1,255,000)
Ulyanovsk Oblast (Pop. 1,490,000)
Capital: Ulyanovsk (691,000) 
Saratov Oblast (Pop. 2,725,800)
Capital: Saratov (905,000) 
Astrakhan Oblast(Pop. 1,029,300)
Capital: Astrakhan (512,000) 
Volgograd Oblast   (Pop.  2,701,600)
Capital: Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) (1,028,000) 
Kalmyk Republic (Pop. 316,700)
Capital: Elista (95,000)

CSPP School of Government & Public Policy U. of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ Scotland
Email: cspp@strath.ac.uk